I like creating web pages using HTML, and XUL looks quite the same.
Would it be possible to create standalone applications using XUL?
If not, is it possible to make XUL inside the browser perform actions outside the browser? (like launch programs and such)

... is it possible to make XUL inside the browser perform actions outside the browser? (like launch programs and such) ...

actually, you can do that with Mozilla/Firefox ... probably Opera

for Firefox:

make an executable script (for Puppy 1.0.4, you should be able to right click a folder in Rox and select New, Script)
call it something like myscript.pupp ... make sure the name has a .pupp extension ... put some shell commands in the file, something like:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
xmessage -center "Hello, World"

if you browse to the location of the file (for example, if you put myscript.pupp in /tmp, you could type /tmp in Firefox's url bar) ... Firefox should display the script as text

Yes it is possible to make standalone programs with XUL runner but most are dependent on running the widgets and programs that are provided with Mozilla.

Thunderbird is an application written in XUL.

Launching and running programs is possible by giving special chrome permissions (javascript and java are restricted from doing things that might invite rogue programming) HTML can include XUL commands and XUL can include HTML and javascript and call other programs and load in and save files etc.

I am still very new to XUL. There are some things to bare in mind. XUL programs will run in FireFox and Mozilla based browsers on WIndows, Mac, Linux. and BSD

XUL does not run on Opera, IE or Dillo
I have not yet found an IDE or WYSIWYG way of putting together buttons and menus etc but it will arrive.

There are other things required to make the most of XUL - for example like other XML it requires a style sheet - not looked at this yet.

Keep us updated with how you get on and any good links or tips

Here is a great link with a guy developing a WP and other apps all using XUL
http://www.georgenava.com/applauncher.php
If for example you click on XUL studio you will see a WYSIWYG designer is in preparation . . . Maybe we should register an interest.

You do not have to be on line to run XUL programs. They also reuse existing components within Mozilla

The browser IS the Internet _________________YinYana AI BuddhismLast edited by Lobster on Thu 15 Sep 2005, 05:50; edited 2 times in total

Byzantine OS is quite unique in that it uses Mozilla as the desktop. Not only it gives you the browser, email and simple word processor (ie.composer) but includes some plug-ins (ie.java) , some additional apps (mplayer, gaim and some simple games) and simple packaging system. I think the UI could have been developed much further but even now it is quite an amazing and unique little distro.

Sadly, the development has stopped over a year ago - unlike with Puppy, there was just one active developer and no forum to speak of either. A valuable lesson for any distro developer, I think... However, I'm sure, sooner or later, someone will pick up the ideas Byzantine OS implemented and take them further.

Here are some screenshots to give you a better idea ( http://byzgl.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html ).

Welcome to the kennels you are our 600th resident which you will see mentioned in the wiki news.
http://www.goosee.com/puppy/wikka/LatestNews

I never downloaded the Byzantine OS, perhaps because the project was abandoned. Now perhaps it would be worth looking at, to see what can be learnedt and salvaged.

There are two main approaches to in-browser programming the other one being the Ajax approach. Ajax is much harder to implement (best really suited to many programmers / commercial undertakings and uses a kludge type mentality). Basically it makes use of javascript and server side programs to deliver services such as the excellent Google map service.
Any company that can make a buck from delivering a unique service will then do very nicely - thank you - MS likes it of course . . . except for one thing - this mapping service (link it to services) will make Google the richest company in the world (in a few years time) Of course the wikimedia project might be working on wikimap (even as we speak) and that might change the situation somewhat . . .

[ahem . . . am I rambling again fellow Puppys?]

The other tool is zool (XUL) which is client centered. Clean and suited to individuals providing extra functionality. Thunderbird and Firefox are written in XUL. A map service written in XUL could access the data from Googlemap, strip the ads, hype (has not arrived yet) and display the information requested and required. People power. Must be a Puppy thing . . .

I wonder if anyone tried to create mozilla-only Puppy (Pupzilla http://www.timelord.co.uk/rf/gallery/RF/101-200/135_d41.jpg anyone ) - just like in Byzantine OS, no desktop - just Mozilla. I've had an exchange with someone on another forum who was very keen on a bare-bones browser based distro which could be run on old computers (ie. lean and mean - the existing solutions so far are too much of a bloatware). Of course, it's easy to imagine many other kiosk-type usages: libraries, community centers or just for many people (like my father in-law) who would prefer a simple setup.

I do hope SeaMonkey developers will be successful in their effort to keep Mozilla suite alive - in many situations it just makes more sense to have and integrated (but plug-able) environment than separate browser and email (composer/nvu, calendar,...) .

+++

You've mentioned Google and services - clearly that's the way they are heading. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they're already working on a 'free' (of course) browser-only 'thin-client' linux distro tied up to their back-end services. 2GB of email storage is a lot. In fact, plenty for other type of data as well: documents, photos...And the 'complete' storage would, of course, be complemented by on-line apps manipulating all that data. On-line Picasa anyone...?

Yes tried ByzantineOS - in it now in fact, and yes it is very interesting. Shame it was abandoned. If you decide to download (this is one of the things that put me off) - it uses gzip on the ISO - so if you are using burnCDCC on Windows (yes to my shame I still use this reliable method) then download 7zip from priclessware2005.org to ungzip on Windows . . .

Yes tried ByzantineOS - in it now in fact, and yes it is very interesting.

ByzantineOS took the ideas (and some code) from OEone HomeBase - from the guys who developed Penzilla ( http://freshmeat.net/projects/penzilla/ ) and implemented it as a micro (<50mb) distro. I've played with it for a while back a year ago but had problems getting support (eg. no support for winmodems). I really feel there's a room for something like that in the market place and someone will re-start the development with updated apps and more streamlined GUI. Puppy is an amazing little distro (can't help but think of it as a sheep farm working dog - not pretty but working hard and dependable... ) and a joy to use for someone like myself. However, for my wife, kids or my parents, I would prefer something even simpler - hence the ByzantineOS and Pupzilla idea... Come to think of it it, would be a great case for the SeaMonkey guys to show off the integrated apps approach advantages...

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